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Leave YOUR Writing on the Wall! Send your postgame critiques, analysis, ranting and raving about the last game as well as your predictions, smak, & insults about our upcoming opponent. Whether your message is a simple "Go Steelers" or detailed, in-depth analysis, tell us what you think and we'll post it below.
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Steelers vs Falcons (34-34)
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Fan Poll |  |
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Who deserves the game ball for the Falcons game?
• Tommy Maddox
• Plaxico Burress
• Joey Porter
• Hines Ward
• Amos Zereoue
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Scoring Summary
First Quarter
PIT - FG, Todd Peterson 34 Yd.
Second Quarter
ATL - TD, Shawn Jefferson, 43 Yd pass from Michael Vick (kick is good).
PIT - TD, Plaxico Burress, 33 Yd pass from Tommy Maddox (kick is good).
PIT - TD, Hines Ward, 5 Yd pass from Tommy Maddox (kick is good).
Third Quarter
ATL - TD, Warrick Dunn, 59 Yd run (kick is good).
PIT - TD, Plaxico Burress, 62 Yd pass from Tommy Maddox (kick is blocked).
ATL - FG, Jay Feely 36 Yd.
PIT - TD, Jerame Tuman, 18 Yd pass from Tommy Maddox (kick is good).
Fourth Quarter
PIT - FG, Todd Peterson 34 Yd.
ATL - TD, Bob Christian, 1 Yd run (kick is good).
ATL - FG, Jay Feely 40 Yd.
ATL - TD, Michael Vick, 11 Yd run (kick is good).
Overtime
No Scoring.
Key Stats & Facts
• Tommy Maddox throws for franchise record 473 yards! Simply amazing! It's a shame that Cowher's pathetic play-calling tarnished Maddox's performance by costing us a win.
• Plaxico Burress sets franchise record with 253 receiving yards! He looked like a man among boys. MVP of the game in my book. Once again, too bad Cowher rained on Plex's parade.
• Todd Peterson misses 2 FGs and a PAT! Kris Brown, come back!!!
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Steelers Offensive Leaders | |
PASSING |
ATT |
CMP |
YDS |
TD |
INT | |
Maddox |
42 |
28 |
473 |
4 |
1 |
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RUSHING |
ATT |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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Zereoue |
37 |
123 |
0 |
13 |
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Ward |
1 |
29 |
0 |
29 |
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RECEIVING |
REC |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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Burress |
9 |
253 |
2 |
62 |
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Ward |
11 |
139 |
1 |
30 |
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Randle El |
3 |
51 |
0 |
36 |
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Falcons Offensive Leaders | |
PASSING |
ATT |
CMP |
YDS |
TD |
INT | |
Vick |
46 |
24 |
294 |
1 |
0 |
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RUSHING |
ATT |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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Dunn |
20 |
129 |
1 |
59 |
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Vick |
10 |
52 |
1 |
12 |
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RECEIVING |
REC |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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Jefferson |
9 |
131 |
1 |
43 |
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Finneran |
6 |
72 |
0 |
23 |
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Dunn |
3 |
14 |
0 |
16 |
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Key Defensive Players | |
DEFENSE |
T-A |
SCK |
INT |
FF |
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Porter |
6-2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
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Scott |
6-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Farrior |
5-1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
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Gildon |
3-1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
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Townsend |
3-0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
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Key Defensive Players | |
DEFENSE |
T-A |
SCK |
INT |
FF |
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Brooking |
7-4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
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Mathis |
7-0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
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Buchanon |
6-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Holecek |
6-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Kerney |
5-2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
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Overheard on the Sideline...
"Yeah, right... Atlanta will cram 17 points into the 4th quarter and the game will end in a tie. That's a good one, Hines!"
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Cowher-ed!
Cowardly calls cost Steelers a win
Article by McMillen & Wife
I have never, EVER been as disgusted with Bill Cowher as I am right now. Seeing him say "we didn't lose" in his postgame interview still makes me want to vomit. Technically, he's right, of course. But no thanks to him. Cowher did everything he could to cost us a game that we utterly dominated on the field. Our players deserved to win. He prevented it.
Stop reading the papers and start coaching this team.
I'm beginning to think Bill Cowher reads too many of his own press clippings. I'd like to shoot the stupid bastard in the media who told Cowher that he was 70-1 when he had a lead of 10-points or more. First of all, I dispute the claim. Right off the bat, I can think of 2 games fitting that criteria that he lost. The 2000 OT game vs. Philly (26-23 -- Sandy & I were there -- it was Sandy's only "loss") and the '94 AFC Championship (we were up 13-3 in the 3rd following a Woodson INT). Come to think of it, we had a 17-7 lead over K.C. in the '93 playoffs, but a blocked punt and a Montana comeback sealed our fate.
Maybe Cowher should've taken the time to verify the stat before he took it to heart. Dumb-ass.
What's the perfect compliment to any Terrible Towel?
McMillen and Wife's very own handmade
Steel City Soap!
(pictured above)
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Keep your hands off the offense, Billy-boy.
Maybe I could stomach this a little more if I hadn't seen it coming. Cowher doesn't know how to handle a nice, fat lead and has a history of letting the air out of the ball when he gets a little ahead. He showed it as recently as last week vs. Cleveland by letting them back in the game. If our running game was still #1 and our pass defense wasn't just about dead last in the friggin' league, maybe I could go along with this grind-it-out-and-hope-the-other-team-gives-up crap. But as it stands, no lead is safe with our defense, and Amos isn't a grind-it-out type of back.
Cowher has admitted that he "outlawed" passing plays late in several games this year. What ought to be outlawed is Bill Cowher getting anywhere near the offensive playbook. Bill, leave the offense to the expert (Mike Mularkey) and concetrate on keeping that red flag in your damn pocket on obvious calls. I realize that you don't have a terribly firm grasp on the concept of clock management, Coach, but those time-outs DO come in handy sometimes.
If your offense is capable of scoring 50 points, LET THEM SCORE 50 DAMN POINTS!!!
Maybe it was okay to be chivalrous in the old days by not pounding a team into the ground with "garbage-time" TDs. But in today's NFL, there's no such thing as garbage time. It's a 60-minute game, Bill. I seem to recall a drive back in week one where you went to great lengths to score a meaningless TD vs. the Patriots (on the final play of the game, no less), even using trick plays on the drive. When asked why you did it, you said, "We play for 60 minutes, no matter what the score is." What a crock!
Our offense was damn near unstoppable for 50 minutes last Sunday until you started to clunking around under the hood and pulled the spark plug. Hands off, Bill. When your offense is scoring at will, you let 'em do it and do it and do it until the game is over. Maybe instead of meddling with the offense, you oughta be concentrating on improving our horrendous special teams? Just a thought.
Enough. In spite of the fould taste in my mouth, the Atlanta game was chok full 'O bright spots.
Tommy Maddox: 28 of 42, 473 yards and 4 TDs for a passer rating of 126.4! Friggin' incredible. If only he hadn't thrown that costly pick in overtime. I can't help but wonder what might've happened had Cowher left the offensive machine in drive...
Plaxico Burress: 9 catches for 253 yards (an average of 28.1 per catch, an obscene number for someone with that many receptions) and 2 TDs, not to mention an almost game-winning catch at the 1-yard line in OT. To me, Burress was the MVP of this game. He looked like a man among boys. At times, it almost didn't seem fair. All of the pregame hype was about Michael Vick, but Burress was easily the most dominant player in this game. One thing Plex... PLEASE remember that you're not in college anymore! You're not down until you've been touched and the whistle blows!
Joey Porter: A dominating force on defense. He was everywhere! Led the team in tackles (unless you count Chad Scott, who led for all the wrong reasons), sacked Vick once and was in his face countless other times, forcing and recovering a fumble. Has any defensive player in the league had a better year than Porter? I sure can't think of anyone.
Hines Ward: Week in and week out, Hines gets it done (11 catches for 139 yards & a TD). A REAL 60-minute man (take note, Bill).
Amos Zereoue: You're not Jerome Bettis, but I love you, man. A very workman-like performance (123 yards on 37 carries). Still, I'll be glad to get Bettis back in there. I think the Bus would've lended some much-needed power to Cowher's "run-out-the-clock" strategy late in the game.
Todd Peterson: You, sir, stink.
One little silver lining: If I had to choose a game to choke in, it would be a non-conference, non-divisional game like this one. Cowher's gaffe Sunday did the least amount of damage possible considering we didn't win.
Next up, the Tennessee Titans. I wouldn't wanna be Steve McNair & company this week, folks. The Steelers are gonna be good & pissed coming into this one. It could get VERY ugly. Play MAD, guys (for 60 minutes this time!). Until then, bruthas & sistas!
Tim McMillen
Webmaster, McMillen & Wife
Mac & Wife is Hosted and Sponsored by Pittsburgh's Finest!
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Fan Smak & Analysis
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The following articles are listed in the order they were received (with the most recent entries at the BOTTOM). This isn't a "guestbook" format... I read and manually insert every message, so you may not see your submission show up immediately. Thanks a million for your comments, people!
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Author: Bill from Hanover
Comment: Awesome Article
WOW, what an excellent article ......
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Author: Mike from IN
Comment: reply
Nice article Tim. I only disagree with one thing
and that is that bringing back Jerome and sitting zeroue.
Sure Jerome has had many 1000 yd seasons and all that stuff but Amous is much more explosive and adds a different element to the steeler game plan. Besides that you could not be more correct on the cowher issue. what in gods name is going through his head when he makes the decisions he does. I'm speechless. Todd Peterson you suck pal. Plain and simple. When are they going to fix our field. I know they had a highschool game
friday night and Pitt U. played saturday but that field is a season ending injury waiting to happen. Had to get that off my chest.
Just my two cents.
Go steelers
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Author: McMillen & Wife
Comment: Re: reply
Don't misunderstand, bro. No way am I advocating "sitting" Amos Zereoue in favor of Bettis. What I am looking forward to is the one-two punch having both guys in there can give us.
The rumors of Jerome's death have been greatly exaggerated.
The guy can still play the game. He was pummeling the Colts before he went out. Jerome isn't going to have as many break-away runs as Amos (although Jerome did have a 41-yarder vs. Cinci), but he knows how to get things done. I maintain that had Bettis been in Sunday, Cowher would've been able to power down the clock successfully. The mistake Cowher made was trying to play the game like Bettis was in there. He made the same mistake last year against the Vikings and it almost cost us that game, too.
Sooo... no way do I think Zmos should be on the bench in favor of Bettis. But Bettis shouldn't be sitting either. I prefer a nice mix of the two. What a great posistion to be in!
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Author: omega
Comment: postgame
Great article Tim. Someone should send it to Mark Madden who ,yesterday, claimed that there was nothing wrong with the coaching in the game and that the players, on both sides of the ball, just laid down in the fourth quarter.
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Author: McSteelerfan
Comment: Bettis
You couldn't be any more right , Tim . As far as I'm concerned , Bettis is 'da Man . People dont realize how he's quietly putting himself in the record book and the hall of fame . A racehorse is a wonderful and exciting thing to watch , but you need a plowhorse to get the heavy work done . No farm should be without one of each . Remember Bam Morris and Eric Pegram ? They were on the field at the same time , and neither one went hungry for running time .......and they were extremely effective. ( didnt mean to get all poetic on ya.)
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Author: The Ghost of Big Daddy Lipscomb
Comment: Good Article
Tim,
Nice commentary and I agree with most of it. A couple of reinforcing points:
1. Mark Madden is an A$$. Unless it involves street hockey or dope smoking heavy metal bands he knows nothing, He also needs a dietition, barber and dentist.
2. I have no problem with Cowher not taking a time out before the final field goal attempt of Atlanta. In fact, that was one of his better jobs of coaching that minute. What I do have a problem with is his sticking his nose ( and that says a lot) into the offense. Heck, he is a special teams coach. In fact, he should spend more time with the special teams!!!!
3. Cowher needs to do the things necessary ( like learn how to manage the clock after 11 years in the NFL) to make his teams successful. Let the coordinators take care of defense and offense.
4. Cowher also needs to quit spending so much time on TV and more looking at tape.
Finally, Buddy Parker would never put up with the shenanigans of Plaxico, Jerome, and the recently departed Bobby Shaw. ( got a leave I am meeting Buddy for a drink up here in heaven---all Steelers go to heaven if you didn't know).
WEeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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Author: edgar
Comment: Cow herd
Ah yes, another Oh so close season for the steelers unfolding before our eyes. THe defense sucks--THe ravens ran up and down the field on them. Just wait until the Ravens come of age. THat salary cap is coming down hard next year.Let me give you a hint------dump LARDASS Bettis.--- The Gobbler(turkey neckMaddox)is about to come undone and pull a cornhole stewart.
There isnt a cat on the steelers D who can hang with a healthy Ray Lewis and you know it. Have a frustrating year--You guys are getting good at those.
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Author: butch1010
Comment: re:
Tim,
Gotta agree about the assesment on our coach. I didn't see the game, but listened to it on the web (probably a blessing for my sake). I would have a hard time picking between Burress and Porter for the game ball as both were giving superior performances. Hell even Maddox wasn't shabby.
As for our kicking game I hear that the Cryboys are looking at Stewart (who has to be better than what they got now), maybe we could get their kicker who doesn't seem to be all that bad. What ever happened to that guy who was kicking straight on instead of soccer style at least he would be fun to watch.
As for Bettis I like him but he sure has been prone to injury lately. I know that he is older and has a very healthy contract; I sure hope he comes back with a vengence. I like our combination of using Fu' and Amos as we did last year and still feel that had Cowher left them in there we would've been the Super Bowl Champions.
Tim you have a very good nack at hitting the nail on the head. Keep up the excellent analysis bro'. Go Steeleres.
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Author: John M. Aria
Comment: Steelers v. Falcons
Couldn't agree more with your analysis, Tim. Cowher needs to look no further than the mirror if he wants to know why they didn't win. He just doesn't know how to coach a passing team. The fourth quarter was Marty Ball at it's finest. Nobody loves smash mouth football more than me, but ya gotta go with what's working. And the Steelers passing game was working better than I've ever seen it. Dance with who brung ya.
Two things I have to add: How can Chad Scott get burned deep repeatedly in every game, and not change his style of play. I know he doesn't always get a lot of safety help, but damn! The guy's got tons of athletic ability- he just gets fooled way too much. I've played flag football with guys who could fake him out of his shoes. Stop trying to jump the short routes so much. Keep the receiver in front of you and punish him when the ball arrives. Good things will happen. Both of the corners are well known to be susceptible to double moves, and every team they've played this year has done it to them.
As for Peterson- This guy will cost us a playoff game. You can't beat quality opponents with short kickoffs and missed field goals. Under 50 yards should be damn near automatic. Is there anyone besides Bill Cowher who thought Peterson had a chance at making that 48 yarder in OT? Where's Norm Johnson? There's gotta be someone out there who can kick 40 something yarders. I hold my breath during extra points.
If the coach can't find a way to solve some of these glaring weaknesses, we're looking at an early exit in the playoffs. And another opportunity lost. I'm afraid that Billy learned a little too much from his buddy Marty. He'll always have a competitive team that underachieves. If Cowher coached his players to the best of their abilities, the Steelers would have gone to the superbowl in 1994, and they would have won it in 1995, 1997, and 2001.
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Author: Your name here!
Comment: Coming soon!
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